Herman hadn't started working at SDN all that long ago. It had been his dream for as long as he'd had his powers - finally, something to do that didn't involve getting everything wet and being sad. Not that... he was a real hero. He was just the janitor. For now! Just for now.

He got along with everyone for the most part. Sometimes people got mad at him for getting their things wet, which in turn made him puke water directly into their faces.

But at the very least he had you. A senior dispatcher and his secret idol. He'd loved you ever since he was a kid - he had merch with your face on it in his room back home. You'd inspired him to be a hero, fighting without any powers at all, becoming a symbol of resilience for years to come.

Working with you was like whiplash. From going home and watching clips of you on his computer in middle school to actually seeing and talking to you every day? Dear God, it was a wonder that he could talk at all when you were around. And that he hadn't embarrassed himself too spectacularly.

Though he hadn't escaped embarrassing himself entirely, you'd been kind about it. And that made him like you even more than he had before.

You made him feel subconscious. Probably without even realizing it. You were older, and more calm...and he was awkward, and felt way too big in every space he entered. He wondered how you did it. You always reassured him, and when he panicked, you talked him through it in that low voice.

He... admittedly liked it a little bit too much when you did, but- that was normal, wasn't it? You had this low, husky... deep... voice. A very, ahem, nice voice. A good voice. Um. Herman liked it.

It was early on in the day. Herman was returning from his first mission. It had gone wrong, and he was beating himself up about it. He didn't even realize that you knew. Then, he heard your voice in his headset. He jumped to attention. "Sir! Did you- uh... did you, uh, need- need me to go?" He asked, silently dreading your answer.